Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 2, 1903)
Over the Border A Talc of tlic Days of Charles I, by Robert T. Barr (Copyright, 190S, by Robert Bnrr.) A CHAPTER XX1L SI rataa-ea. IUf8TKOKGS horse, nearly chjoe. inKKfrid cvr the bridge and up the slight Incline that led to the cathedral precincts Across tho grounds surrounmnc the ztm! church had been raUrd a feieat earthwork, ami the battered west from of the aacxed building showed that war hi J been no re-sp-rer of sculptured bnu:;. A tone pike man paced up and down before the cathedral door, but paused as he saw this impetuous rider, whose horse had stumbled and fallen at the top of the rubbish heap "What do you there?" shouted Armstrong, springing nimbly from hi fan a boo. "ron't you hear the firing? Down to the street and help your comrades; the towa is attacked Run." "I w:is told to stand here." objected ths bewildered guard. "Run, confound you! lK you question the word of nn onVe.r?" The man, trailing his pear, ran, and disappeared down the street. "France. Frances, are you within? Open the small door; It Is I, Armstrong." "Yes, yes; 1 knew you would come," be heard her say, and then the welcome rattle of bolts. Hut they must be speedily drnwn If they were to clear the way for a man hard pressed. Over the barricada urged a wuve of pikrmen. two-score or more, the mounted colonel behind tbera. urging them on with pungent oaths. "Sanctuary! Sanctuary?" shouted Arm strong, raising his sword aloft, standing under the arched doorway, steadfast as on of the stone knights behind him. Sanctuary be damned!" cried the colonel, urging hi horse up the embankment. "Tiown on him. you dogs, and take him dead or alive!" In irjrfte of the cursing of the colonel. In plte of the buttered condition of the great church, In spite of the deadening Inlhience of thi. wiir, tho cry of "Sanctuary" struck homo to many of tho hearts there opposed to tho fugitive, nnd the pike-topped crest of the human wuve paused for one brief in stant, yet It was enough. Hefore the wave broke and fell, the small door gave and swung inward. Aa the pikes rattled against 1. Armstrong had the bars and bolts ra their places again. Break down that door!" he heard ths colonel roar outside, while the impetuous William clasped ths girl In his arms and kissed her. "Lord, marie. I'm glad to meet you again, although It s Just drk tnnugh in this placsj for the seeing of aayene." The young woman shook herself free. "We wasted too much time at that be fore. I-et It be a lesson to us. This place la stable. Our horses are well fed. and I ha addles are still on them." "Hut is there a way out?" "Yr- small door In the northeast cor ner. Come along." "It Will be guarded, surely." "No. I think they wanted me to escape, for they went out that way after barring the front door, llut they didn't think, you would l) with mo when I took my leave. Coni quickly, or they will be round to it from tho front." "I doubt It. The colonel Is a RlrmlnKhara mau and a powerful swearer, who know noinmg or this church, or any other think. The men will nr ! back door until it la too late ., tv '": they will hear language from tho colonel." The two made their way to the further nd of the cathedral, where the horses wera tailed. The vast nave was dark and would soon be black as a cellar until the moon rose. It was used aa a military storehouse a a stable and aa a dormitory for troops when the acrommodaHon In the town was overtaxed. As Armstrong and hla com panion stumbled over obstructions toward the horses, the s parlous chamber rang with the impact of timber against the stubborn doors, Frances, knowing the geography of ths place, led tho way with her horse, and Armstrong followed with hla Once out side there was more tight than be wished for. but their wsy to the rear was clear, nd mounting, he took the lead, crossing aa alpine bridge which had done duty during the siege, and taking a somewhat terrify ing leap down to the greensward of the field at the back of the cathedral. Then they ran north through a slight valley, and. foe the moment were safe from observation. The moon win be up soon," said the yoong man. "and I don't know whether to welcome It or fear it." "We shall do neither, aa we have no In fluence one way or another and nu.it bear Its disadvantages or the reverse, as chance wilts. Now tell me wktt happened. How did you escape?" The tale waa anon told, half humorously, s if it were aa escapade rather than aa saw ape, and tho narrator woaaai ap with a delermi nation, to avoid the saaia road Is future. "Ttere I do not agree wits yon." alio said. "1 have keen akame rr that cathedral some three seats or more sad have had ths to taiak. Toa sua we blundered iato (ha anibiwcade, and so we did. You huva I ths hewn your way out by a marvelous com bination of luck and prowess, but such exploits are im to be depended upon. Tos must use your mind a. wll ua your right arm, and the swiftness of your horce, if you are to win Scotland." "KrancfM, ymt discourage m. I loikel upon my escape rather as a triumph of wit than of muscle. Th? setting of the Roundheads at each other's tltronU In the mist seemed an inspiration and the cry of Sanctuary' gave me Just the moment of time that was needed. Your f Imxte of tan Is Ju-t that of the Reverend, Henderson of Edinburgh, who held I h il buely sens enough to direct a stout blow." "No. no: I give you full credit for great RBaasasssnae ture traveling In front of ns. We will keo.p ahead, so long us we ride fast, and until we stop somewhere for tho night, then, having relays of horses, while we have only our own. they will pass ns. We cannot ride all night, or we shall kill our horses, bat wo can cover a good deoj of the ground be tween hero and Manchester. Once north of Manchester I think you are fairly safe. So I propose we rtle at once for the matn road and keep going as long as or horses are a bio to travel." "Agreed, but following your own tnstruo tlorts, what are we to say when we are stopped? We bare do pass, so how am I to croont for myself ? "Tou are s Roundhead soldier, sent on to "Tea, verily, this Is a transformation Indited," cried Armstrong, looking at him self in the mrannUgM. "lay Basse is Hcaekfcih and the steel cap is a thought on the small side, bwt the rest the dudj re not so bad." "The cap was the largest I cwll and," laughed the girt, "and will fit closely enough when your locks are shorn." "Oh. Must I sacrtnes this vanity of Absalom as well?" Surety. If .1 am to be your Delilah. I munt fiil flit my duty. I searched the whola cathedral for that whieJi would do ths work of shears, but could find mrfhinK. However, the first cottage we come to will supply as with a suit We instrument. Nuw t?mw torn an oirhdnging branch of the Jrrst tree hung a limp and dripping tvhite tag. j Ingenuity . lut we sluatbluo upon the Vari a n&eotarians with no plans nir.de. Every thing has been done on the spur tf tka moment and has not been thought out before ths crisis came. A few chance re marks got us clear at Warwick, while Inspiration and a fog were your safety at Lichfield, snd even then by one brief In stant of time. The recurrence of su-h strokes of luck and good management are not to be looked for. Some time the mo meat needed will go against us and then all is lost." "True enough. What do you propose?" "I propose we take te the nnil'i rood again, which must be near at hand on our kefl." "Too: must remember we have no piss from Cromwell now. The lieutenant kas It." "Toa wilt have a pass for yourself tho moment you are north of Manchester, which cannot be more than fifty or sixty miles away. We must get over those miles as speedily aa possible; tkerefors the main road Is our route." "Tea. If H were practfc-aMe. tut surely danger lies Olick along the tnais road." "1 do not think so. While in the cathedral I krard troop after troop of men going to the north. They will carry the news of your capture, but not of your escape. Un til they beat in the door of the cathedral ad search the place thoroughly so mes senger will be sent aorta. We are ahead of them ones more, with the news of your cap- SJam better by line colonel at UmfiekL" "I rook like a Roundhead aoUler!" cried Wiltkm with a laogh. "Ton will. It la always wefl to have some one in a traveling party wko ean think. Have yon not noticed tho load you carry behind your saddle?" Armstrong turned. The rising moon slums on a steel cap that looked like an over turned pot on a bundle of cloth, aU neatly Btrappcd on. "The cathedral is a storehouse for uni forms nnd accoutrements enough to lit out a regiment. I selected the largest suit I could find, with cloak and cap. and belted them to your saddle. Now I shaU hold your boras while you go into the thicket and change your raUnnL Conceal that cavalier costume as well aa you can, so that If they trace us over this fog -sodden turf, which Is likely, they will get no hint of your new appearance. It might be well to climb s tree and tie your discarded shell among the leaves, with the straps that bind tho bundle to your horse, and be careful to leavs neither the! king's mimi m nor your purse with your finery." It was s happy oases for future donvrstie peace that the huge nun did at once and without curstlon wbat the comparatively fragile young woman bob aim. she holdmg bis horse while ks mad the rapid rhaago. When be emerged the hnrs piaagvd and she had some ado to ProW him un ri 1 hs heard bis master's voice and laugh. mown aaf frt a away." They speedily casse vpon the main) road and cantered on through tha beautiful night, determined to pal fifty mile- or thereabout between ttesasetvas and Lich field, hot before they had accotmpttaaed half that distance Armstrong saw th.it tho girl was eompietrfy tired out. in rprte of her (fiscal Imei-s, for, aside from the tfie sonie day's travel, she had had little sleep tha aiht before. It was must tempt n to push on, for the nieht was perfect and the road was gooJ. Even though they passed through several villages, they wera luit uu-estkuied. SoUlusr la uxaU cluakt and steel caps were too eotnmoa on tho ruad to casse comment and they wvre as yet in advance of say news of escape. At last taey came lo a farm koow near the roadnidfe ami Armstrong beat up the Inmates, bringing a womana head to an opened window. At first she would adult no one at that konr of the night, cat the moon iKiaJag oa the steei cap and the long cloak apparently gave her mAaincr. H-r husband was In the sooth with Cram wv II, sao said. She co-rid CaJ a pb.ee In the house for the lady, bat the soldier would find better across 4tt tim than he was screstossid to in an outhouse. Witts this Arsastroosr esaemsd himself as amply mUsfted. TTsey iataaauated sn4 he led sway tk horses, lie found a pface for these la a shed, eaaasined sad robbed then down with care. Having satisfied himself that they were none the worse for their